Historical Timeline
2020-2022
February 2020
A Future Farmers of America chapter was started at Murray High School, a first for the school district.
Future Farmers of America at MISD.
March 12, 2020
Both Murray Independent and Calloway County boards of education voted to halt in-person classes for at least two weeks and the state court system closed all its buildings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
March 20, 2020
The Murray-Calloway County Health Department confirmed its first local coronavirus case.
A rendering of the coronavirus from the Murray Ledger & Times.
April 7, 2020
The first COVID-19 related death was announced by the Calloway County health department
April 2020
Secretary of State Michael Adams agreed to move the May primary election to June 23rd due to the coronavirus.
June 1, 2020
Following nation-wide protests over the shooting of George Floyd in Minnesota, a group of Calloway County residents held a vigil at Roy Stewart stadium and the following night, a group of protesters marched from 12th Street to the courthouse square, stopping at the confederate monument. That gathering resulted in two individuals being arrested.
Protesters march through Murray. Photo by Hawkins Teague of the Murray Ledger & Times.
June 11, 2020
The Murray City Council voted to draft a resolution advocating the removal of the Confederate monument. The resolution passed unanimously on June 25th.
July 2020
The Calloway County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a resolution to leave the Confederate monument where it resides on the courthouse square in Murray.
July 2020
Douglass High School canceled their annual reunion for the first time in 50 years due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
August 2020
Student groups from Murray State University marched in protest against the Confederate monument at the courthouse square in Murray. It was on the 57th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington D. C. for jobs and freedom.
September 5, 2020
Murray State alumni, Jack Wolf, won his second Kentucky Derby as a racehorse owner with Authentic. The horse went on to win the Breeders Cup on the 7th of November.
Jack Wolf, courtesy Starlight Racing.
October 8, 2020
Rickman Field was dedicated in honor of Jimmy and Dot Rickman who had made many large contributions to the park system over the years.
October 2020
Though Homecoming festivities were curtailed due to the pandemic, two new statues were dedicated at MSU. Racer One was placed in front of the Curris Center and a statue of the first president, John W. Carr was located in the middle of the campus.
November 2020
Calloway Circuit Clerk Linda Avery committed $60,000 to the Murray-Calloway County Community Foundation in honor of her friend, Jean Shahan. Of the total, $54,000 is for a scholarship program at Murray High School, where Shahan's son, Kevin, was a former student athlete. The remaining $6,000 is to go to the Foundation's Women of Numbers program.
December 16, 2020
The JC Penny store located in the Chestnut Hills shopping center announced the Murray store would close in spring 2021.
December 23, 2020
The first shipment of long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines arrived and were in use at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital within an hour.
January 4, 2021
Murray State University Department of Journalism and Mass Communications faculty member, Dr. Robert "Doc" Howe McGaughey committed more than $100,000 to establish a Fund for Excellence as a quasi-endowment. The funds go to supporting the department's programs and overall mission.
January 4, 2021
The Calloway County Public Library opened with reduced hours and limited traffic after being closed for many months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
January 6, 2021
As congress gathered at the nation's capital to certify the electoral college vote in the 2020 presidential election, an angry mob of protesters stormed the building forcing congress to postpone the action until later that evening. The incident came one day following a pivotal election in Georgia that determined control of the U.S. Senate in the next congress.
January 11, 2021
"A Prairie Home Companion" radio show was broadcast live from the CFSB Center in Murray in front of nearly 4,000 people.
January 20, 2021
Theresa Schroader was honored when the memorial quilt she designed was selected as part of an exhibit honoring Medal of Honor Recipients at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The quilt was in honor of Ronald Rosser, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War.
Photo by John Wright, ML&T
January 22, 2021
Pavel Smyshlyaev, cofounder of TPG Plastics, a new industry located at the Murray West industrial Park, announced plans for a co-op program with Murray State University, targeting engineering students.
January 28, 2021
Murray State Alumni, Jack Wolf, won the Horse of the Year award from the Eclipse Awards, the highest honor in North American horse racing, with Authentic. The three-year old horse won both the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup.
February 5, 2021
Attorney General Daniel Cameron recognized Commonwealth's Attorney for the 42 Judicial Circuit Dennis Foust with a 2020 Outstanding Prosecutor Award.
February 18, 2021
The Calloway County Middle School Speech Team won their 18th consecutive regional championship.
February 28, 2021
Judge-Executive Kenny Imes declared a state of emergency in Calloway County as heavy rain having created a flash-flood event, washing out several county roads and leaving streets, homes and businesses underwater in Murray.
Photo by John Wright, Murray Ledger & Times.
March 3, 2021
Governor Andy Beshear traveled to Murray to see for himself the damage from recent flooding. Traveling by National Guard helicopter, he was joined by Judge Kenny Imes, Mayor Bob Rogers and MSU President, Bob Jackson as they reviewed the aftermath from area flooding across the county.
March 11, 2021
The Tosh Farms Wean to Finish Swine Facility was donated to MSU's Hutson School of Agriculture. This learning laboratory provides qualified graduates to fill the jobs of the future as it provides hand-on educational opportunities for students. Tosh Farms is a family farm operation located in Henry, Tennessee.
March 23, 2021
An engineer by training, former Murray State professor, Dr. Tom Lough, developed the Noteable Mask, which he patented. The facemask allows the person wearing it to sing without fear of spreading germs. It was created during the Coronavirus Pandemic to help choirs get back to singing together.
March 2021
The Kentucky Press Association recognized Constance Alexander as 2020s Best Columnist. It was the columnist's eighth recognition for excellence by the KPA.
Constance Alexander.
March 30, 2021
The Murray-Calloway Parks and Recreation Department was awarded nearly $20,000 to install a walking trail and a toddler playground that meets the American With Disabilities Act standards. The monies were from the Land Water Conservation Fund.
June 13, 2021
Journalists at Murray State University's public radio station WKMS will receive the Al Smith award for public service through community journalism, nominated by Constance Alexander.
September 10-11, 2021
With a 4-1 vote by the Calloway County Fiscal Court and a 10-1 vote Murray City Council, the Murray-Calloway County Parks and Recreation was transferred to be fully controlled by the City of Murray.
November 1, 2021
The Doran Foundation made a charitable contribution of $500,000 to the City of Murray to renovate the swimming pools at Central Park. This was followed soon thereafter by FNB Bank of Murray and Melissa Easley each contributing $100,000 towards the renovation of the pool.
November 13-14, 2021
For the second time in history, the Murray High Tiger Band "took the gold" during the Bands of America National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Tiger Band placed first in their class making them Class A National Champions and they were awarded outstanding musical performance and outstanding general effect for their class.
The Murray High Tiger Band. Photo courtesy the Murray Ledger & Times.
